Trailer jack tailgate protector

ABSTRACT

A trailer jack protection arrangement that includes a cushioned plastic or rubber surface in the event of contact between a trailer jack and a portion of the vehicle, such as a tailgate. The arrangement is attached to the trailer jack via the jack stem and projects above the jack handle or jack top cylinder, depending on the type of jack. The arrangement utilizes an embedded metal stamping to provide a mounting surface and extra stability for the plastic or rubber impact surfaces. The arrangement also utilizes a Teflon® washer underneath it for lubricity and stability when it also turns as the jack handle turns to move the trailer up or down, on a top wind jack. The alternative design provides protection for a side wind jack using an adapter, which can have several different forms to accommodate all types of trailer jacks. The design requires installation and prevents easy removal of the invention so it is not lost or stolen.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protector device that connects to thetop of a trailer jack and protects objects, such as a tailgate, fromstriking and being damaged by the trailer jack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the transportation field trailers are often used for many differentpurposes. Trailers are typically towed behind vehicles by beingconnected to a trailer hitch or ball, which is at or near the rearbumper of the vehicle. In order to take the trailer off of the trailerhitch oftentimes trailer jacks are implemented in the area of thetrailer called the tongue. Trailer jacks come in many forms, but commontrailer jacks include a telescoping leg that supports the front portionof the trailer, and raises it up above the ball of the trailer hitch todisconnect the trailer from the trailer hitch ball that is connected tothe vehicle. The trailer jack moves telescopically by having a legportion that slides in and out of a sleeve by rotating a handle that isconnected to a worm drive. Sometimes motors are used instead of ahandle. The top portion or body portion of the trailer jack creates adamage hazard, typically when the towing vehicle has a tailgate, liftgate or door that can strike the top or body portion of the trailerjack. This is especially true with pickup truck tailgates that can pivotdownward and strike the top portion of a trailer jack and become dentedor scratched. It is therefore an object of the present invention toprotect the vehicle and the jack from damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cushioned plasticor rubber surface in the event of contact between a trailer jack and aportion of the vehicle, such as a tailgate, door or lift gate. It isfurther an object of the present invention to provide an arrangementthat is attached to the trailer jack via the jack stem and projectsabove the jack handle or jack top cylinder, depending on the type ofjack. The device utilizes an embedded metal stamping to provide amounting surface and extra stability for the plastic or rubber impactsurfaces. The device also utilizes a Teflon® washer underneath it forlubricity and stability when it also turns as the jack handle turns tomove the trailer up or down, on a top wind jack. The alternative designprovides protection for a side wind jack. Adapters can be produced forall types of trailer jacks. The design requires installation andprevents easy removal of the invention so it is not lost or stolen.

The present invention is directed to a trailer jack protectorarrangement that is connectable to the top portion of a trailer jack.The trailer jack protector arrangement includes a bracket having a baseportion and two vertically extending portions that extend at asubstantially perpendicular angle away from the base portion. The baseportion includes a post hole formed therethrough, which is used toreceive a post of a top winding trailer jack, which will be discussed ingreater detail below. The base portion also has two connector holesformed through the base portion, which are used for connecting thebracket to an adapter, which will be described in greater detail below.The bracket is typically formed of stamped metal, however it can beformed of other materials such as glass reinforced plastics. Each of thetwo vertically extending portions have a top edge and also include ahole formed through each one of the two vertically extending portions.

A bumper portion is disposed on each one of the two vertically extendingportions and is formed in a way that each bumper portion extends pastthe top edge of the respective one of the two vertically extendingportions in order to eliminate any sharp edges. Each bumper portion alsohas a hole formed through the bumper that is aligned with the respectivehole formed through each one of the two vertically extending portions.The purpose of the hole through the bumper and the hole through thevertically extending portions allows for the connection of a trailerjack handle in the space between the two bumper portions, which requiresa fastener to pass through the holes and connect the handle to the post.

Other areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement for a top winding trailer jack according to a firstembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement for a side winding trailer jack in accordance with a secondembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged side perspective view of a trailer jackprotector arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an enlarged side view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement on a top winding trailer jack according to a firstembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts an enlarged side view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement on a side winding trailer jack according to a secondembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 depicts an enlarged side view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement on a side winding trailer jack according to a secondembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged side view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a bottom plan view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a side perspective view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 depicts a side perspective view of a trailer jack protectorarrangement according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

FIGS. 1 and 4 depict a trailer jack protector arrangement 10 located ontop of a trailer jack 12 in accordance with the embodiments of theinventions. The trailer jack 12 includes an outer sleeve 14 thatslidably receives an inner leg 16. At one end of the inner leg 16 is awheel 18 that is pivotally mounted. While a wheel 18 is shown it ispossible to have a fixed foot or other component. The outer sleeve 14houses an actuation mechanism, such as a worm drive (not shown) thatmoves the inner leg 16 between an extended and retracted position withinthe outer sleeve 14. The outer sleeve 14 includes a top portion 20 andside portion 22. In the present embodiment the trailer jack protectorarrangement 10 is what is referred to as a top winding trailer jackbecause there is a post 24 extending upward from the top portion 20 ofthe outer sleeve 14, which is connected to the actuation mechanism. Thepost 24 is used to connect a handle 26 by way of a fastener 28. Thehandle 26 actuates the trailer jack 12 by rotating 360 degrees around tocause the actuation mechanism to move the inner leg 16 between theextended and retracted positions.

As shown in FIG. 1 the trailer jack protector arrangement 10 includes abracket 30 that is formed of stamped metal. While metal is described itis within the scope of this invention for different materials to beused. Referring briefly to FIG. 9 the bracket 30 includes a base portion32 and two vertically extending portions 34, 36 that extend at asubstantially perpendicular angle away from the base portion 32. Theends of the two vertically extending portion 34, 36 have a rounded edgeor curled portions 38, 38′ that eliminate a blunt upwardly facing edgeas shown in FIG. 9. The curled portions 38, 38′ eliminate a pressurepoint if an object such as a tailgate 40 strikes the top of the bracket30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring briefly to FIG. 8 a bottom viewof the bracket 30 of the base portion 32 is shown. The base portion 32includes a post hole 42 and two connector holes 44, 44′ of the baseportion, which are used for connecting the bracket 30 to and an adapter46 which is described in an alternate embodiment of a trailer jackprotector arrangement 100, described below with regard to FIGS. 2, 3, 5and 6.

Each of the two vertically extending portions 34, 36 have an opening 48,48′ formed therethrough, the purpose of which will be described below.About each of the two vertically extending portions 34, 36 in a bumperportion 50, 50′ that is disposed thereon and is formed by an overmoldingprocess. The overmolding process embeds each of the two verticallyextending portions 34, 36 within the material of the respective bumperportion 50, 50′. Each bumper portion 50, 50′ can be formed of manydifferent types of materials, however it is within the scope of thisinvention for the materials to include one from the group consistingessentially of plastics, polyvinyl chloride, silicone, polyurethane foamand rubber. Each bumper portion 50, 50′ extends past the top edge of therespective one of the two vertically extending portions 34, 36 to whichthe respective bumper portion 50, 50′ is disposed.

Each bumper portion 50, 50′ has a hole 52, 52′ that extends through therespective bumper portion 50, 50′ and also aligns with the respectiveopening 48, 48′ of the one of the two vertically extending portions 34,36 to which the bumper portion 50, 50′ is disposed thereon. This allowsfor the post 24 of the trailer jack 12 to extend through the post hole42 in the base portion 32. This aligns the post 24 within the holes 52,52′ extending through the bumper portion 50, 50′ and the opening 48, 48′extending through the respective vertically extending portions 34, 36 sothat the handle 26 can be connected to the post 24. Connecting thehandle 26 to the post 24 connects the bracket 30 to the top portion 20of the trailer jack 12. The bracket 30 will then rotate with the handle26 and the post 24. In order to prevent unwanted friction between thetop portion 20 of the trailer jack 12 and the bottom of the base portion32 of the bracket 30, a washer 54 (shown in FIG. 4), which is made offriction reducing material or other suitable material can be positionedthere between. As shown the washer 54 in the present embodiment can be aTeflon® washer that the bracket 30 will rotate upon.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 a trailer jack protectorarrangement 100 in accordance with the second embodiment the inventionwill now be described. Reference numerals similar to those used in thefirst embodiment will be used differing by 100. In this particularembodiment of the invention there is a trailer jack 112 that is referredto as a side wind trailer jack. The difference between the trailer jack112 in this embodiment and the trailer jack 12 shown in FIG. 1 is thattrailer jack 112 is what is commonly referred to as a side wind trailerjack. This means that there is a handle body 76 connected through a sideportion 122 of the trailer jack 112, rather than being connected to apost as shown and described in the first embodiment of the invention,shown in FIG. 1. Since this particular embodiment is a side wind, thetrailer jack protector arrangement 100 further includes the adapter 46.The adapter 46 has a sleeve portion 56 that forms a hollow cavity 58within opening 60 at one end and a closed end 62 at a second end of thesleeve portion 56. The adapter 46 has an inside surface 64 that definesthe hollow cavity 58 and an outside surface 66 of the sleeve portion 56of the adapter 46. An optional feature of the present invention includesusing multiple set screws 78, 78′ that extend through the sleeve 56 ofthe adapter 46 in order to make contact with the trailer jack and holdthe adapter 46 in place. The set screws 78, 78′ allow the adapter 46 tobe adjusted to accommodate trailer jack models where the outer sleeve122 can have different diameters between models.

There is an aperture 68 formed through the sleeve portion 56, which isan elongated slot that extends between the outside surface 66 to theinside surface 64 of the sleeve portion 56 of the adapter 46. There isalso an outside surface 70 of the closed end 62 of the adapter 46, wherethe bracket 130, which is identical to the bracket 30 in FIG. 4. In thepresent embodiment bracket 130 is connected to the outside surface 70 ofthe closed end of the adapter 46 using fasteners 72, 72′ positioned ineach one of two connector holes 144, 144′ of the base portion 132 of abracket 130.

In this particular embodiment the adapter 46 is configured to slide overa top portion 120 of the trailer jack 112 so a portion of the trailerjack 112 slides into the hollow cavity 58 of the adapter 46 such thatthe closed end 62 of the adapter 46 can act as a stop and if necessarymake contact with the top portion 120 of the trailer jack 112. Theaperture 68 formed through the sleeve portion 56 is aligned with a sidewind connection 74 of the trailer jack 112 that receives a handle body76. At the end of the handle body 76 is a handle 75 that is removed fromthe handle body 76 during connection of the adapter 46 to the trailerjack 112 because the handle 75 has too large of a diameter or size topass through the aperture 68. However, the aperture 68 is of appropriatesize to allow the handle body 76 to pass through the aperture 68. Thuswhen the handle 75 is reconnected to the handle body 76 the adapter 46cannot be removed without removing the handle 75, which can requiretools to disconnect. This creates a theft deterrent feature since theadapter 46 cannot be easily removed without tools.

The aperture 68 of the adapter 46 has an elongated slot that has arectangle or shape with semi circles at opposing ends of the rectangle.This allows for accommodating different styles of sidewind jacks wherethe sidewind connection may be located at a different location along thelength of the outer sleeve of the trailer jack 112.

Referring now to FIG. 7 another alternate embodiment of the invention isdescribed. In this particular embodiment of the invention there is atrailer jack protection arrangement 300 that has an adapter 77 that isable to accommodate trailer jacks having different diameters. Theaccommodation of the different diameters is accomplished by usingmultiple set screws 78, 78′ that extend through a sleeve 80 of theadapter 77 in order to make contact and hold the adapter 77 in placealong the length of a trailer jack 82. The number of set screw 78, 78′can vary depending on the particular application and can include asingle set screw, two, three, four or any number of set screws dependingon the need of a particular application. This particular embodiment isfor a side wind type jack only and also includes the elongated slot 84that is similar to and serves the same function as the aperture 68described in the second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment ofthe invention also includes a bumper mechanism 86 that includes a softbumper 88 connected to a top portion 90 of the adapter 77 using a boot92 that is positioned about a spring 94. A spring retainer 96, 96′ holdsone end of the spring while a second end of the spring extends upwardand rests on the bottom portion of the bumper. The boot 92 prevents auser from coming into contact with the spring 94 which can pinch objectssuch as fingers or skin. This particular embodiment provides a softersurface for a tailgate to make contact with sense the resilient springwill compress when the soft bumper 88 contacts an object, which willcushion the initial striking of an object such as a tailgate against thetrailer jack protection arrangement 300.

Referring now to FIG. 10 there is depicted an alternate embodiment of atrailer jack protection arrangement 400. The trailer jack protectionarrangement 400 can be used for either a top wind, side wind or anyother configuration that will benefit from having a single bumper 102instead of two bumpers as shown in the other embodiments of theinvention. The use of the single bumper 102 is particularly needed intop wind jack configurations where the handle itself or the connectionmechanism between the top post and handle are too large to fit betweenthe bumper portion 50, 50′ shown in the other embodiments of theinvention. The present embodiment of the invention also shows a bracket104 having a vertically extending U-portion 106, which makes it easierto create a hole 108 in the single bumper 102 because it eliminates theneed to align a hole in the bracket with the overmolding of the hole inthe bumper. It is within the scope of this invention for the verticallyextending portions 34, 36 in the bracket 30, 130 of the otherembodiments of the invention to be configured to have a U-portionsimilar or identical to the vertically extending U-portion 106 shown anddescribed with respect to the present invention.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A trailer jack protector arrangement comprising:a trailer jack having an outer sleeve with a top portion and sideportion, the outer sleeve slidably receives an inner leg; an actuationmechanism in the outer sleeve that moves the inner leg between anextended position and a retracted position within the outer sleeve; apost extending upward from the top portion of the trailer jack, the postis connected to the actuation mechanism in the outer sleeve of thetrailer jack; a bracket having a base portion and at least onevertically extending portion that extends at a perpendicular angle awayfrom the base portion and the top portion of the trailer jack and the atleast one vertically extending portion has a top edge; at least one holein the base portion, wherein the post of the trailer jack goes throughthe at least one hole of the base portion and a handle is connected tothe post using a fastener that is connected to the post therebyconnecting the bracket to the top portion of the trailer jack; at leastone elastomeric bumper portion disposed on the at least one verticallyextending portion so that the at least one elastomeric bumper portionextends past the top edge of the at least one vertically extendingportion.
 2. The trailer jack protector arrangement of claim 1 whereinthe at least one elastomeric bumper portion is formed of one of thegroup consisting essentially of plastic, polyvinyl chloride, silicone,polyurethane foam and rubber.
 3. The trailer jack protector arrangementof claim 1 further comprising: a hole extending through the at least oneelastomeric bumper portion; wherein the handle is connected to the postby positioning the fastener through the hole of the at least oneelastomeric bumper portion.
 4. The trailer jack protector arrangement ofclaim 3 further comprising a friction ring positioned between the baseportion of the bracket and the top portion of the trailer jack, whereinthe friction ring allows the bracket to rotate about the post, whilereducing the friction and contact between the bracket and the topportion of the trailer jack.
 5. A trailer jack protector arrangementcomprising: a trailer jack having an outer sleeve with a top portion andside portion, the outer sleeve slidably receives an inner leg; anactuation mechanism in the outer sleeve that moves the inner leg betweenan extended position and a retracted position within the outer sleeve;an adapter having a sleeve portion forming a hollow cavity with anopening at one end and a closed end at a second end of the sleeve, suchthat the adapter has an inside surface defining the hollow cavity and anoutside surface of the sleeve portion, wherein the adaptor slides overthe top of the outer sleeve of the trailer jack-so a portion of thetrailer jack slides into the hollow cavity of the adapter such that theclosed end of the adapter contacts the top portion of the trailer jack;an aperture formed through the sleeve portion between the outsidesurface to the inside surface; an outside surface of the closed end ofthe adapter; a bracket having a base portion and at least one verticallyextending portion that extends at a perpendicular angle away from thebase portion and the top portion of the trailer jack and the at leastone vertically extending portion has a top edge; at least one hole inthe base portion, wherein the bracket is connected to the outsidesurface of the closed end of the adapter by a fastener positionedthrough the at least one hold in the base portion, and at least oneelastomeric bumper portion disposed on the at least one verticallyextending portion so that the at least one elastomeric bumper portionextends past the top edge of the at least one vertically extendingportion.
 6. The trailer jack protector arrangement of claim 5 furthercomprising: a sidewind connection located on the side portion of thetrailer jack; a handle is rotatably connectable to the side portion ofthe trailer jack, and wherein when the adapter slides over the topportion of the trailer jack the aperture formed through the sleeveportion of the adapter is aligned with the sidewind connection of thejack so that the handle can be connected to the sidewind connectionthrough the aperture of the adapter.
 7. The trailer jack protectorarrangement of claim 5 wherein the aperture is an elongated slot havinga rectangular shape with semi circles at opposing ends of the rectangle.8. The trailer jack protector arrangement of claim 1 wherein the topedge of the at least one vertically extending portion is curled.
 9. Thetrailer jack protection arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least onevertically extending portion has a hole extending through the at leastone vertically extending portion, which aligns with the hole of the atleast one elastomeric bumper portion.
 10. The trailer jack protectionarrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one hole in the base portionof the bracket includes one post hole and two connector holes, whereinthe one post hole is used to receive a post from a top wind trailerjack.
 11. The trailer jack protection arrangement of claim 9 wherein thetwo connector holes are used to connect the bracket to an adapter forconnection to a side sidewind trailer jack.
 12. A trailer jack protectorarrangement comprising: a trailer jack having an outer sleeve with a topportion and side portion, the outer sleeve slidably receives an innerleg; an actuation mechanism in the outer sleeve that moves the inner legbetween an extended position and a retracted position within the outersleeve; a post extending upward from the top portion of the trailerjack, the post is connected to the actuation mechanism in the outersleeve of the trailer jack; a bracket having a base portion and twovertically extending portions that extend at a substantiallyperpendicular angle away from the base portion, wherein each of the twovertically extending portions have a hole formed through each of the twovertically extending portions and the two vertically extending portionseach have a top edge; a post hole formed through the base portion of thebracket and two connector holes formed through the base portion of thebracket, wherein the post of the trailer jack goes through the at leastone hole of the base portion and a handle is connected to the post usinga fastener that is connected to the post thereby connecting the bracketto the top portion of the trailer jack; an elastomeric bumper portiondisposed on each one of the two vertically extending portions, whereineach elastomeric bumper portion extends past the top edge of therespective one of the two vertically extending portions to which theelastomeric bumper portion is disposed.
 13. The trailer jack protectorarrangement of claim 12 wherein the elastomeric bumper portion is formedof one of the group consisting essentially of plastic, polyvinylchloride, silicone, polyurethane foam and rubber.
 14. The trailer jackprotector arrangement of claim 12 further comprising: a hole extendingthrough the at least one elastomeric bumper portion; wherein the handleis connected to the post by positioning the fastener through the hole ofthe elastomeric bumper portion.
 15. The trailer jack protectorarrangement of claim 14 further comprising a friction ring positionedbetween the base portion of the bracket and the top portion of thetrailer jack, wherein the friction ring allows the bracket to rotateabout the post, while reducing the friction and contact between thebracket and the top portion of the trailer jack.
 16. The trailer jackprotector arrangement of claim 12 further comprising an adapter having asleeve portion forming a hollow cavity with an opening at one end and aclosed end at a second end of the sleeve, such that the adapter has aninside surface defining the hollow cavity and an outside surface of thesleeve portion; an aperture formed through the sleeve portion betweenthe outside surface to the inside surface; and an outside surface of theclosed end of the adapter, wherein the bracket is connected to theoutside surface of the closed end of the adapter by using a fastenerpositioned in each one of the two connector holes of the base portion.17. The trailer jack protector arrangement of claim 16 furthercomprising: a trailer jack having a top portion and a side portion witha sidewind connection, a handle is rotatably connectable to the sideportion of the trailer jack, and wherein the adapter is configured toslide over the top portion of the trailer jack so a portion of thetrailer jack slides into the hollow cavity of the adapter such that theclosed end of the adapter contacts the top portion of the trailer jackand the aperture formed through the sleeve portion of the adapter isaligned with the sidewind connection of the jack so that the handle canbe connected to the sidewind connection through the aperture of theadapter.
 18. The trailer jack protector arrangement of claim 17 whereinthe aperture is an elongated slot having a rectangular shape with semicircles at opposing ends of the rectangle.
 19. The trailer jackprotector arrangement of claim 12 wherein the top edge of the at leastone vertically extending portion is curled.